PRESS CENTER

We at ECTACO believe that mutual understanding is increasingly important in today's interconnected world.

That's why for the past 14 years we have been developing a great variety of handheld translation devices
and software, ranging from simple electronic dictionaries to powerful speech-to-speech translation systems.
To provide our customers with the best translating tools possible we developed and incorporated in our products
the latest in state-of-the-art hi-tech technologies, including speech synthesis, speech recognition, machine
translation and many others. Today we offer translation solutions for more than 50 languages and have
over 500,000 satisfied customers worldwide (www.ectaco.com)

ECTACO SpeechGuard represents a new generation of speech-to-speech multilingual handheld translation
systems and is intended for government, professional and business markets. With its unique features,
flexibility and great capacity for customization, SpeechGuard is an indispensable tool for anyone who
has to deal with customers, business partners or employees with limited or no English.

Press Releases

Ectaco SpeechGuard Tops the 400 Agency Mark
For almost 20 years as developers and manufacturers of linguistic products, Ectaco has benefited millions of people worldwide to overcome language barriers. Due to enhanced interest and efforts of law enforcement agencies around the country, many have turned to Ectaco's SpeechGuard as an effective communication tool. The handheld speech-to-speech device was initially requested by the Department of Defense to be developed for translation use by the military. It has subsequently become used by many including law enforcement and Homeland Security agencies throughout the United States.

ECTACO Adds Pen Scanner to SpeechGuard
Ectaco, Inc., the world leader in the development of electronic dictionaries, translators and linguistic software, has introduced a pen scanner to complement SpeechGuard. Recognized as the sole developer and manufacturer of SpeechGuard, ECTACO's law enforcement and military clients inquired about the ability to translate non-English text expeditiously without the assistance of a human translator. Now standard with the vast array of SpeechGuard accessories is a pen scanner, an easy to use tool that plugs into the host device to afford swift translation of numerous languages to and from English...

Police in Summit County will soon have a new tool to help them deal with such frustrating and confusing situations — a high-tech, hand-held language translator. The county Emergency Management Agency has bought 36 SpeechGuards for local law enforcement agencies. The device works like this: You speak English and your words are interpreted aloud into one of nine pre-programmed languages.

InsideBayArea.comHillsborough police ease communication with translation device
HILLSBOROUGH — Like most cops on the Peninsula, Hillsborough police officers suffer from a language barrier. Hillsborough Police Department has found a way to scale this Tower of Babel with the help of an ECTACO Speechguard PD-5, a multilingual, handheld electronic translation device...

James GilbertWest Columbia Police Fight Domestic Violence with Technology
Officers will use electronic voice translators and undercover audio and video equipment that will help combat domestic violence.
Officers say the electronic voice translators are able to enhance communication between officers and victims in multiple languages. Similar to a handheld PDA, officers can choose from pre-programmed phrases or add unique phrases that they need in order to better investigate domestic violence cases...

StreetInsider.comECTACO Adds Pen Scanner to SpeechGuard
Ectaco, Inc., the world leader in the development of electronic dictionaries, translators and linguistic software, has introduced a pen scanner to complement SpeechGuard. Recognized as the sole developer and manufacturer of SpeechGuard, ECTACO's law enforcement and military clients inquired about the ability to translate non-English text expeditiously without the assistance of a human translator. Now standard with the vast array of SpeechGuard accessories is a pen scanner, an easy to use tool that plugs into the host device to afford swift translation of numerous languages to and from English...

DesMoinesRegister.comJohnston police break language barrier
The Johnston Police Department's new assistant speaks nine languages. SpeechGuard is a multilingual hand-held translator expected to help police officers break language barriers. The city was able to purchase the device with a $950 donation from Wells Fargo. The device will allow voice translation in Spanish, Korean, Polish, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Farsi, Japanese, Arabic and Russian, Lt. Lynn Aswegan said. It can be programmed to recite specific phrases in these languages and translate simple spoken phrases. The software includes language dictionaries and gives notes on various cultures...

Coastalpoint.comSouth Bethany police go high-tech
Officers with the South Bethany Police Department are part of one of the few agencies in the state utilizing one of the most advanced technological developments in law enforcement. Say hello — or “hola,” or “bonjour” — to the ECTACO Speechguard PD-5, a device that’s practically straight off the U.S.S. Enterprise. This multilingual, hand-held police translator is revolutionizing relations between citizens, suspects and law enforcement. Officers can now communicate in a multitude of languages, without losing critical time or patience. Now, all that has changed for South Bethany’s finest. Each squad car is equipped with a Spechguard device to simplify the officers’ work. The PD-5 includes everything from basic commands for a routine traffic stop to translations of the Miranda warning.

THE JOURNAL NEWSForeign languages no barrier with newest police toolWHITE PLAINS - City cops will soon be able to help you, or arrest you, in seven languages thanks to a new handheld device that can translate text or audio phrases specifically designed for police work. "We're not kidding ourselves," Police Chief James Bradley said of the "SpeechGuard" device. "This won't replace one-to-one conversations, but on the street or in an emergency it's a valuable tool that will help us get started in cases where there are language barriers."

www.wdbj7.comHandheld translator helps during traffic stops of non-English speakersVERONA, Va. Augusta County law enforcement officers have found a tool to communicate with motorists they pull over who don't speak English.
The Augusta County Sheriff's Office has purchased three battery-operated devices that helps in officers' initial interrogation of drivers.

www.whsv.comAugusta Co. Has New Tool In Fighting CrimeAs the population of the valley grows, so do the languages that are spoken. With the influx of those who don't speak English, comes a growing need for law enforcement to communicate with them. That's where the Augusta County Sheriff's Department's new hand held translator comes in handy. Designed to effectively communicate with someone who does not know English.

USA TodayEctaco's SpeechGuard TL-4 It doesn't contain a dictionary, but this "translator" might be the most useful device for travelers looking to communicate simply with hotel clerks, waiters and airport agents.
SpeechGuard, which resembles a portable PlayStation, contains a list of about 700 of the most popularly used traveler phrases, and translates them into clear speech.

National DefenceArmy ‘Rapid Equipping Force’ taking root, chief saysThe SpeechGuard, developed by ECTACO Inc. of Long Island City, N.Y., is a handheld electronic translator. Each of the machines can handle more than 20 languages. In Iraq and Afghanistan, such devices are translating U.S. soldiers’ words into Arabic, Dari and Pashto. A soldier simply speaks into the unit, and it repeats what it has heard in the language of choice.
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U.S.News & World ReportThe travel gadgets of '05 take tech tricks on the roadThe Ectaco SpeechGuard TL-4 ($400) takes half the pain out of tackling a foreign language. The handheld device translates hundreds of phrases from English into Spanish, German, Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, and Italian. Just speak into the device, and the gadget "says" the phrase aloud in the language of your choice.

Daily HeraldWoodland police chief breaks language barrier - electronicallyWOODLAND - Woodland Police Chief Don Ryan is trying to break the language barrier.
He is doing this with the help of a new piece of equipment.
Ryan purchased a $950 Ectaco translator with funds from a $11,111.11 N.C. Crime Control and Public Safety grant to help
Spanish-speaking people understand police instructions.

Macon TelegraphFort Valley breaks language barrier with translating toolFORT VALLEY - The city’s police department has a new law enforcement tool that translates English to Spanish in an effort to clear the language barrier and communicate with the Hispanic community.
The electronic device - an ECTACO SpeechGuard PD-4 - looks much like a handheld, electronic day planner complete with a stylus and a touch screen. But what it does is spit out 3,000 typical police commands and phrases in Spanish at the touch of the stylus.

CNNCES blitz: Work and playthingsIf you travel a lot but languages are not your strong point, then a Russian company might just have the answer.
It has developed a handy pocket-sized gadget that translates English phrases into French, German or Spanish.

BBCLanguages in the palm of your handIf you travel a lot but languages are not your strong point, then a Russian company might just have the answer. It has developed a handy pocket-sized gadget that translates English phrases into French, German or Spanish.

ForbesLowering The Language BarrierAs we've come to live with rapid technological change, it's not uncommon to try and compare the way things are turning out to the way the creators of the TV show Star Trek envisioned. Ectaco's Universal Translator: Not quite as good as the one on Star Trek. Sure, we've got personal communicators similar to those of Captains Kirk and now Archer--we call them mobile phones--and in some cases, the resemblance is striking. But one feature ours are lacking is the universal translator.

USA TodayUpdate: Wireless products to star at CESFinally, look for some buzz to be created by a new handheld device called the Universal Translator that integrates sophisticated speech recognition technology.

PC World MagazineA Cumbersome Traveling CompanionMost of us would probably take a stab at speaking sentences from a foreign phrase book when overseas. Ectaco goes one step further with its handheld device--but it's overkill.

Tech TVTranslation ToolsImagine your life as a top-secret government spy in the vein of Sean Connery's James Bond, James Coburn's Derek Flint, or even Dean Martin's Matt Helm. You're a jet-setter with a job to do. You travel the world to take on super-baddies bent on world domination. Now step back into reality and remember that although diamonds are forever, you barely squeaked through your high school foreign language class. Sure, you could live the high-rolling life of a secret agent, if only you could get past the whole foreign language barrier. Take heart (and put down that book promising to teach you Esperanto in 14 days or less). Technology is coming to the rescue.

Goverment Computer NewsUT-103 talks in four tonguesSpeech recognition has reached the point where a universal translator is feasible Speech recognition technology has stagnated for several years. Faster processors shorten the time needed for voice training but, beyond simple voice navigation or word processing, vendors have made few notable advances.

Los Angeles TimesWeird and Wonderful Are on Display at Vegas ExpoIf we had to pick one product at CES that gave us the most delight, it would be this hand-held, voice-activated unit that translates spoken English phrases into Spanish, French or German. "It has 3,000 phrases, which covers a lot of human conversation when you are traveling and don't know what you are doing," said Andrew Ageev, product manager for the unit, which was developed in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Detroit Free PressComdex Opens Today Under Tighter SecurityVoice-recognizing translators: It's not quite the "Star Trek" universal translator, but it's close. The Pocket Voice Translator UT-103 from Ectaco holds 3,000 common phrases in French, German and Spanish. To say the right thing to your foreign hosts, you just speak into the unit. The translator records your words, recognizes them, looks them up and then says the proper phrase in the language of your choice. It'll fit in a pocket with ease. It uses AA batteries and includes an alarm clock.

Pocket PC Life (United Kingdom)Ectaco Universal Translator reviewedWhile most people would not use such a program as this for phone conversations, the real benefit that I see is to learn another language. For children to learn to a new word, they have to correctly use it 75 to 100 times before it is added to the long-term memory. Knowing that, how can anyone expect to learn another language just from going to a class that meets once a week? There are no shortcuts to committing to memory the verbal nuances of a particular language.

Ananova.com:Handheld device promises instant translationA new handheld gadget promising to translate voice commands into different languages is about to be released in the US. The Universal Translator 103 converts selected spoken English phrases into French, German or Spanish.

International Herald Tribune:IHT: Russia Takes Advantage of Brain Power at HomeThe city is home to a large community of computer programmers who are fueling a growing outsourcing industry to international companies. Many business people and analysts say a number of Russian cities, especially St. Petersburg, are already becoming.

FastCompany.com:Me Talk PrettyWhen traveling internationally, good language skills are what separate the bon vivants from the booboisie. Next time you find yourself linguistically challenged, whip out the Universal Translator UT-103 from Ectaco Inc.